Suu Kyi sees ASEAN role in restoring democracy — Loren

Aung San Suu Kyi believes that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would play a vital role in restoring democratic institutions in her country, according to Sen. Loren Legarda. After a meeting with the pro-democracy icon in Yangon, Myanmar, Legarda called on the Philippine government to continue playing an active role in moving for the restoration of democratic institutions in the country still ruled by a military junta […]

Indonesia Puts the Spotlight on Human Rights as ASEAN Chair

In its role chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, Indonesia says it will make human rights its top priority. At a news event Friday, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his country hopes that during 2011, the ASEAN human rights commission will be more effective in fulfilling its mandate to demonstrate the organization’s commitment to respect the basic rights of human beings.

Placing Human Rights at the Forefront of Indonesia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2011

In the beginning of 2011, KontraS, HRWG and FORUM-ASIA on behalf of the Solidarity of Asian People’s Advocacy (SAPA) Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights (TFAHR), would like to welcome and highlight our demand for Indonesia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN this year on the promotion and protection of human rights in the ASEAN region.

Having branded as a democratic country with respect for human rights within national and international communities, there is a high expectation on Indonesia towards its Chairmanship of ASEAN this year […]

President wants non-governmental elements involved in ASEAN Summit

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government would involve all national components in the organization of the ASEAN Summit in 2011 to make ASEAN community-based […]

ASEAN, UN, asked to support refugees fleeing armed conflict in Burma: This shows the bankruptcy of junta’s 2010 polls, activists say

“There is no doubt in our mind that this decades-old armed conflict in Burma can only be resolved by forcing the junta to democratize. The Burmese junta historically is even fuelling the conflict between armed groups. This continued armed conflict simply exposes the bankruptcy of junta’s 2010 elections.”

Thus said Egoy Bans, spokesperson of the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines in reaction to the armed conflict that sparked recently near the Thai-Burma borders as a result of an increasing tension between the Burma’s military regime, The State Peace and Development Council and ethnic armed groups […]

It’s time ASEAN and the UN step up to the task: Investigate abuses, reject election and support Aung San Suu Kyi, urges AIPMC

The release of Aung San Suu Kyi offers new hope for Myanmar. But her release does not solve any of the fundamental problems in the country. The world must continue to work for the freedom of the people of Myanmar.

Another 2,200 political prisoners remain behind bars. Last week’s election reignited ethnic tensions and triggered fresh fighting along the Thai-Myanmar border. Any return to fighting increases the risk of fresh human rights abuses primarily targeting the country’s ethnic nationalities and of new waves of refugees being forced to leave their homes for safety […]

It’s time ASEAN and the UN step up to the task: Investigate abuses, reject election and support Aung San Suu Kyi, urges AIPMC

The release of Aung San Suu Kyi offers new hope for Myanmar. But her release does not solve any of the fundamental problems in the country. The world must continue to work for the freedom of the people of Myanmar.

Another 2,200 political prisoners remain behind bars. Last week’s election reignited ethnic tensions and triggered fresh fighting along the Thai-Myanmar border. Any return to fighting increases the risk of fresh human rights abuses primarily targeting the country’s ethnic nationalities and of new waves of refugees being forced to leave their homes for safety […]

Week 35: 2010 Election Watch (2-8 November)

Developments

Widespread evidence of electoral fraud, irregularities, threats, harassment, and lack of independent monitoring characterized Election Day and the days leading up to it:

• In the days before the election, local SPDC officials, polling station officials, and Union Solidarity and Development (USDP) members throughout the country solicited advance and proxy votes, in the overwhelming majority of cases specifically for the USDP […]

TACDB Expresses Its Severe Disappointment in ASEAN and Implores It to Re-Examine Its Approach to Burma’s Junta

The Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB) wishes to express its extreme disappointment in the Association of South East Asian Nations’s (ASEAN) embrace of the severely flawed election in Burma. By doing so, ASEAN’s Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and the members of ASEAN have put the priorities of the Burma Junta above those of the people of Burma. Their willingness to accept the results so quickly reveals badly misinterpretation of democracy […]

Sham Election in Burma Must be Rejected

Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) denounces the statement of Vietnam, the current ASEAN Chair, welcoming the election in Burma as “a significant step forward in the implementation of the 7-point Roadmap for Democracy”[…]